"Walker, Texas Ranger" star Chuck Norris thinks Texas' Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is right in ordering the Texas State Guard to keep a close eye on U.S. Special Operations Command troops who will launch a controversial two-month multi-state military exercise, Jade Helm 15, in July.

The exercise is thought by many to be training for the establishment of militarily enforced martial law in the U.S., and despite military and White House denials, Norris, like Abbott, is concerned that may very well be the case.

Writing an opinion piece on WND, Norris, who owns a ranch in Navasota, Texas, commented: "Last week, I laughed as some progressives in the mainstream media tried to mock Gov. Abbott for telling the Texas State Guard to monitor the Pentagon's Jade Helm 15 military ops that are occurring this summer in seven states, including California and Texas."

Abbott wrote to Maj. Gen. Gerald Betty, commander of the Texas State Guard, that he has been assured the exercise "will pose no risk to residents or property and that they will coordinate with local residents via verbal and written communication," and ordered regular updates on the exercises, the Army Times notes.

While expressing trust in the military, Norris added, "what's under question are those who are pulling the strings at the top of Jade Helm 15 back in Washington. The U.S. government says, 'it's just a training exercise.' But I'm not sure the term 'just' has any reference to reality when the government uses it.

"It's pretty sad and bad when major military ops are ordered in a large, fiery state like Texas and not even the governor or its senators know the specifics.

"It's neither over-reactionary nor conspiratorial to call into question or ask for transparency about Jade Helm 15 or any other government activity. To those who merely think we should check our brains at the door of the White House and trust what the government does, I would reiterate to you the words of one of our government's primary founders, Benjamin Franklin, who said, 'distrust and caution are the parents of security.'

"Friends, when it comes to freedom, we must question, verify and vet everyone and everything. We must never check our brains or blindly trust, especially the government. Rather, we must fight until our dying breaths for liberty, especially when it appears those in power are trying to knock down Old Glory."

Norris praised Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for questioning the purpose behind Jade Helm 15, and added, "whether deterrence, display of power or something more covert or devious, let's not come with any patronizing nonsense of impotence and simplicity when its origin is in Washington."

The controversy was in evidence during a recent meeting in Bishop County, where Lt. Col. Mark Lastoria tried to quell residents' concerns, saying, "this is not a preparation for martial law. They really want this to be a greater conspiracy, and in reality, all we want to do is be sure our guys are trained for combat overseas. That's it," KHOU-TV Houston reported, while some residents strongly disagreed.

Chuck Norris thinks Texas' Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is right in ordering the Texas State Guard to keep a close eye on U.S. Special Operations Command troops who will launch a controversial two-month multi-state military exercise, Jade Helm 15, in July.